With recent changes to auto insurance for Rochester Hills, MI residents and our neighbors around the state, you might be wondering if any potential changes are on the horizon for other important policies like your homeowners’ insurance policy.

When to Worry about Insurance Reform

At Guy Hurley McNeil, we think it’s always a great time to learn more about insurance, but there is a limit to how much information will impact the average person’s experience with insurance. As long as you know your current policy – especially its renewal date – you should be fine. The amount of time between renewals will be different between providers and policies, but it’s usually 12 months. A little before your renewal is the best time to check in with your insurance provider. The provider may contact you about changes that would affect your plan or reminders about your renewal before then, and you can contact them if you have additional questions or just forgot something.

That said, the most impactful policies will likely be in the news while they’re still in the formulating process, and the actual implementation may take a year or more. For example, the auto insurance reform was signed in May of 2019 and took effect in June of 2020. If someone had no other outside contact except to check on their insurance around its renewal dates, they would have found out about the upcoming changes.

The best way to alleviate your worries is by having a quality provider for your insurance. The people of Rochester Hills, MI and the surrounding Metro-Detroit area can count on Guy Hurley McNeil to help you find one.

Most people brush off the importance of having a homeowner’s insurance policy, but if you want to protect your home against damages, be wise and get it. Homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for hazards and perils, including vandalism, fire, theft, riots, windstorm, and hail’s property damage. If you are in Rochester Hills MI, Guy Hurley McNeil Agency provides a range of coverage options for homeowner’s insurance.

Reasons Why You Should Get Home Insurance in 2021

Insuring your home from damages is essential to protect you from financial strain and the emotional impact of damages that need expensive repairs and to add value to your home. The following are reasons why you need to prioritize home insurance in 2021.

Emergencies Are Hard To Plan For

Home insurance protects your home from damages caused by natural disasters like cyclones, tornados, fires, or hurricanes. If any of this happens, or you get robbed, you need insurance to help with reimbursement for damages. Emergencies are unforeseen, so it’s best to be prepared and invest in protecting your home and hard-earned assets.

Repairs are Costly

In the event of a fire to your home, the repairs needed could be very costly. Home insurance helps cover personal liabilities, property damage, medical expenses, and additional living expenses. If your home is inhabitable due to damages from a covered loss, you get reimbursement for additional living costs.

For Peace of Mind

Home insurance is a crucial expense that offers you peace of mind knowing that you are ready for whatever disaster might strike your home. It is a proactive way to protect your home from unforeseen calamities and uncertainties that cause financial strains.

Some things are beyond your control as a homeowner, so give your home the protection it needs with homeowner’s insurance. If you are looking for a home insurance policy in Rochester Hills, MI, contact Guy Hurley McNeil Agency Inc. for affordable quotes or call for consultation on the different types of policies.

By law, Rochester Hills, MI homeowners do not have to carry homeowners insurance, nor are there any regulations of rates. However, lenders often require homeowners to purchase insurance coverage to protect their investment in your home. But, again, without any state regulation, insurance companies can set their rates without following any established guidelines. 

While waiting for reform, call the experts at Guy Hurley McNeil, who understand the importance of homeowners insurance and help get you the coverage you need. 

Relevance of Home Insurance Reform

Many states, such as Florida and Colorado, have created changes in how insurance companies operate. Changes include regulating how much homeowners pay for their insurance coverage. However, Michigan does not have many guidelines or requirements in place for purchasing home insurance policies. Ultimately, insurance companies are not regulated by the state, and because of this, Michigan residents may not be as impacted by insurance reform as residents in other states. 

Michigan Homeowners Insurance Laws

Homeowners insurance is not required by law in Michigan. Because of this, insurance agents must guide and advise Rochester Hills, MI, residents about the different types of coverage to fit their homeownership and insurance needs. However, those financing a home, townhouse, or condominium may be required by the lender to carry a homeowners insurance policy. 

Possible Changes

Possible changes associated with home insurance reform include new regulations to protect both lenders and homeowners. Protection for lenders may impose penalties for borrowers who do not carry a homeowners insurance policy while mortgaging their home. Protector for homeowners may include premiums being regulated, including setting an amount policies can increase each year. 

Those with questions about home insurance reform should call the experts at Guy Hurley McNeil to determine how they could be affected. 

Homeowner’s insurance should provide various benefits for Michigan homeowners but is often heavily debated and under constant examination. That’s why we at Guy Hurley McNeil have taken a few moments to examine the potential for reforms and how, if they do come, they will help homeowners who feel like their policies are not good enough for the money that they pay for them.

Are Reforms on the Horizon?

In Rochester Hills, MI, home insurance is often dictated by many different factors. However, many in the state have struggled against options like no-fault (which is most commonly an auto insurance factor) and other unique problems that impact how insurance is priced and how policies are decided. As a result, the state’s lawmakers are often heavily debating different reforms that they may pass.

Unfortunately, the state’s uniquely balanced nature between Republicans and Democrats means that few laws ever get passed that benefit the average person. When the Republican-majority House or Senate passes a bill, a Democrat governor may veto it or vice versa. These issues impact homeowners and make it more difficult for them to get the insurance protection they deserve.

How Reforms Would Help

Home insurance reforms could help cut back on expensive costs and expand what these policies cover. Many lawmakers are pushing for such changes throughout the state, hoping to make it simpler for low-income homeowners to find policies that meet their needs without costing too much money.

So if you live in Rochester Hills, MI, and need high-quality home insurance, please contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil right away to learn more. We keep track of all of the different laws in the state and seek to ensure that you get the best policies. Our team is skilled at streamlining your insurance situation and ensuring that you are fully covered in a way that others may not provide for you.

How to deal with large home insurance claims

Large home insurance claims can be stressful, messy, and confusing. However, it’s imperative that you know what to do when dealing with a significant disaster claim. Remember how fast you act determines how soon you get back to your normal life. Here is what Guy Hurley McNeil recommends doing to get full compensation for your loss.

Review your policy

Every Rochester Hills, MI insurance company has its own way of dealing with insurance claims. Fortunately, everything is well outlined in your insurance policy document. First, you need to know whether the damage or loss is covered in your insurance policy. Next, you need to check the coverage limits to know the amount you will receive as compensation.

Salvage the situation

If you can still do something to prevent further loss without endangering your life, then do it.  As you do so, don’t throw anything away. Take photos if possible, close taps if any are open, and move items you think will get damaged either by fire or water.

Document the damage

The most important thing you can ever do after a big accident at home is document the damage or loss. Take photos and videos showing damage. This will act as evidence, and your insurance company’s adjuster may not interfere with the loss. Have a list of damaged items, year of purchase, and price.

Avoid making assumptions

Assumptions can be costly in large home insurance claims. Therefore, never assume something is covered or not covered. If your Rochester Hills, MI company rejects a claim, it doesn’t mean it’s not covered. Be wise and follow up to make sure you are not being downplayed.

Whether it is fire, theft, or natural disasters, they all touch your softest spot—your family and property. When under extreme personal stress, it’s easy to lose focus and mess up with the claim process. But with a well-organized claim, you can get back everything that belongs to you. For more guidance, contact Guy Hurley McNeil today!

Insuring your home in Rochester Hills, MI should be a top priority. Your home is a valuable asset and one that you don’t want to lose due to a lack of insurance. Protect your home with a home insurance policy in the event something goes wrong. Not sure where to start? Read on to learn more about buying home insurance in Rochester Hills, MI.

1. Work with a Reputable Agent

The first order of business when shopping for a new home insurance policy is to contact a reputable insurance agent. He or she will ask you some questions to find the right quotes to compare. This is a great time to ask all your questions about coverage vs. cost. From here, you’ll compare quotes to find the right policy for your needs.

2. Compare Several Quotes

It is recommended to compare several home insurance quotes before making a decision. Your reputable agent from Guy Hurley McNeil will help you with this. Keep in mind that insurance policies differ when it comes to coverage and price so be sure to review as many quotes as necessary before finding the right one.

3. Bundle Your Policies

Another thing a reputable agent can help you with is bundling your new home insurance policy with your other policies. The carrier you choose to do this with might be one you’ve been working with for years, or you may happen upon a better opportunity and decide to switch carriers. 

To learn more about purchasing a home insurance policy, contact the team at Guy Hurley McNeil. Our reputable agents are standing by right now to take your call. 

Based in Rochester Hills, MI, Guy Hurley McNeil serves the community by offering different types of insurance policies. We strive to make sure that our clients are covered when life sends something unexpected their way.

Home Insurance Regulations

As a Michigan homeowner, home insurance is important. The policy allows you to cover your home in the event that your property is damaged. The policy also protects all of the items inside of your home in the event that they are vandalized. You can amend your policy to cover important valuables such as special artwork or jewelry.

 Home insurance allows you to protect your investment. While it’s true that Michigan homeowners do not have to deal with a lot of guidelines in regards to researching home insurance policies, recent news in the other parts of the country is something that may impact things in the future.

State regulatory agencies are monitoring different policies to ensure that homeowners receive the coverage that they deserve. Searching for home insurance can be an overwhelming experience. That is why regulatory agencies strive to help make the process of searching for home insurance a little easier for homeowners.

Consult With Guy Hurley McNeil

If you are a Rochester Hills, MI homeowner who needs some help navigating the process of searching for home insurance, we will assist you. We take pride in guiding our clients through the process and helping them find a unique policy that suits their individual needs.  We are committed to putting the needs of our clients first. For more information on how we can help you find the home insurance coverage that you need, visit our website today!

Michigan residents aren’t required to carry homeowners insurance by law. However, many lenders may still require that homeowners purchase this insurance as a way of protecting their investment-your home. Michigan is also a state that has no regulation of rates when it comes to homeowner’s insurance. This means that insurance companies can set their rates without having to abide by any state regulations. Home insurance reform has impacted states like Florida and Colorado and created change in the way insurance companies can operate as well as how much homeowners pay for insurance. If anything, Michigan residents aren’t faced with a lot of guidelines and requirements when it comes to home insurance. Michigan doesn’t require homeowner’s insurance and home insurance companies aren’t regulated by the state. This is one of the reasons why home insurance reform may not impact Michigan residents as much as it has impacted others in other states.

Michigan Homeowners Insurance Laws

Guy Hurley McNeil is committed to providing understanding and guidance to Rochester Hills, MI residents when it comes to homeowner’s insurance. Because this type of insurance isn’t required in the state of Michigan by law, it’s intensely important that insurance agents guide and advice residents about the type of coverage and insurance that is truly best for their unique situation. If you’re a Michigan resident that’s purchasing a home, most lenders will require that you carry homeowner’s insurance. This is a smart way of protecting their investment int the event of some unforeseen circumstance. If you are financing your home or condo, many lenders will still require you to carry this type of insurance. 

If You Fail to Purchas Homeowners Insurance

If a lender requires you to carry homeowners insurance proof of insurance will be required. If you fail to purchase homeowner’s insurance As a homeowner who is financing their house or condo, the lender has the right to buy the insurance on your behalf and take payments for this insurance through an escrow account. Although this type of insurance isn’t a requirement, homeowners will more than likely still have to invest in it because most homeowners can’t pay for their home outright, they have to finance their home through a lender. Home insurance reform hasn’t impacted the way insurance companies do business in Michigan because this type of insurance isn’t regulated by state law and its not a legal requirement. This makes it necessary for homeowners to carefully compare insurance companies and choose the one that best suits their budget and their unique needs. 

Many homeowners in Rochester Hills, MI, have a basic understanding of home insurance. They understand that home insurance pays for accidents that result in home damage.  However, insurance companies today like Guy Hurley McNeil focus on very many aspects of your home insurance policy to ensure that you are adequately covered. Here are five covered losses that you may not know about.

1. Lawn and landscaping

Did you know that your lawn is covered under home insurance? You are entitled to compensation if a fire started and burnt all your grass or someone drove their car and tore grass. If you did not know, shrubs, trees, and other plants are covered under home insurance.

2. Spoiled food

Whether you’re keeping vegetables or canned food, home insurance covers for spoiled food in case power goes out for too long. Your insurance company should replace the food every time you file a claim for rotten food. However, if it was your fault that the food went bad, don’t bother filing a claim.

3. Terrorist attack

While home insurance covers burglaries and vandalism, very little is said about terrorism, and it still remains an isolated peril.  For as long as the country is not at war, your insurance company should reimburse you for damages caused due to terrorist attacks.

4. Items stolen from your car or office

Did you know that your auto insurance does not cover the items that get stolen while there? Well, if you lose your laptop that was in your car, you will not report to your car insurance but your home insurance company.

We hope you have learned a few things about home insurance. If you have any questions, feel free to reach us at Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI today!

In most cases, unless your mortgage lender requires it, carrying home insurance is a choice, not a must. When it is not required, people often wonder why they need it and whether they should add on another monthly bill. Here at Guy Hurley McNeil insurance, we want to be sure you know how big of an impact home insurance can make on your life.

Your home is likely your biggest financial investment. If something were to happen to you Rochester Hills, MI home, could you afford the cost to rebuild or buy another home? If a fire broke out and burned down your home, what would happen to your family? Do you have an alternative place to live? Would you be able to pick the pieces of your life back up?

In most cases, the answer is “no”. As homes are such large investments, they can be difficult to replace and rebuild. Though it is not required by law, home insurance is a form of protection that most people cannot do without. In the case of a covered event, your home insurance can cover the costs of the damage or the cost to buy a new home.

Home insurance is something like a savings account that has funds for particular events. You pay your premiums each month. If a covered event occurs, your insurance company will withdraw some of your savings- your policy coverage- to take care of the costs associated with the event.

You may not be required to carry home insurance, but it is something you should seriously consider. There are policies to choose from that can help you bounce back from events such as fire, storm damage, theft, and more. For Rochester Hills, MI residents, give Guy Hurley McNeil a call or stop by today! We can help you personalize your policy to get the coverage you need.